Palestinians Continue To Set Fires From Gaza

Jul. 20, 2018

“The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.” Ps. 7:16

PALESTINIANS CONTINUE TO SET FIRES FROM GAZA, ISRAEL RESPONDS WITH RESTRICTIONS: In response to continued arson kite and balloon terror led by Hamas, Israel announced on 16 July 2018 that it is cutting off fuel and gas supplies to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but allowing medicines and food to pass through. In addition, the permitted fishing zone in Gaza has been reduced from six nautical miles to three. At the same time, the Egyptians announced that they were temporarily closing the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Egypt has warned Hamas to significantly reduce or completely end the launching of incendiary balloons and kites into Israeli territory from Gaza within a few days. (Ynet)

‘GAZANS, DEMAND THAT HAMAS CEASE ITS TERROR’: The head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration in Gaza, Col. Iyad Sarhan, addressed the residents of the Gaza Strip in a post published on the Arabic page of the Coordination Unit for Government Activities in the Territories. In a video filmed at the Kerem Shalom crossing, Sarhan stressed Hamas' responsibility for harming trade in the Gaza Strip. "We ask every merchant and every citizen who is interested in calm and wants to see the goods enter Gaza, to turn to the Hamas terrorist organization and demand that they stop their firebombs and incendiary balloons. The heavy price you are paying is the result of the balloon terrorism and incendiary kites. We consider this to be terrorism in the full sense of the word and therefore the response will be more difficult," he added. "As long as terror continues with the launching of the balloons, the IDF will not sit idly by, will not be silent about the situation, and will respond strongly to this and other terrorist acts that are burning the southern region." (Arutz-7)

FLAMING BALLOON FROM GAZA LANDS IN PRESCHOOL NEAR CHILDREN AT PLAY: A balloon from Gaza carrying flaming materials landed in the yard of a preschool in an Israeli community near the border on 17 July 2018 as children played outside. A teacher managed to get the children inside and there were no injuries. “We went out to the yard with the kids in the afternoon to play,” said teacher Batsheva Baruchi “After five minutes something burning and smoking fell on us from the sky. I immediately understood it was an incendiary balloon.” Baruchi said she and other workers at the school herded the children into a safe room. “We were saved,” she said. “What if it had fallen next to one of the children?” Earlier in the day, a incendiary device attached to a balloon landed on the grounds of an elementary school in the Eshkol Regional Council. The school was closed for summer vacation, so no children were nearby when the balloon landed. Recent months have seen daily arson attacks from Gaza with incendiary kites and balloons that have burned thousands of acres of Israeli forests, farmland and brush. Some 2,500 acres of nature reserves and national parks have been destroyed. (Times of Israel) Please continue to intercede for the cessation of Gaza-launched incendiary kites and balloons. Pray for the safety of Israel’s southern border communities, parks, agriculture and above all its men, women and children.

HAMAS PLANS TO ATTACK ISRAEL WITH ‘EXPLODING DRONES’: Hamas has been diverting resources intended for civilian development in Gaza to enhance its military capabilities, including a growing drone program. Now, with arson-based tactics such as incendiary kites already in use, Israeli defense officials believe Hamas wants to deploy exploding drones to extend its reach further into the country, reports the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Israel held an emergency cabinet session on 15 July 2018 after terrorists launched an estimated 200 missiles at Israeli communities on the border. Israel’s military responded by hitting dozens of Hamas targets. During the cabinet meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman warned Israel has “no intention of tolerating this – not rockets, not kites, not drones – nothing.” Hamas already has been affixing timers to incendiary aerial devices to delay their detonation and maximize damage. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan warned that “we are seeing an obvious trend” and that Hamas operatives “are constantly increasing their kites’ range and they are using ‎other airborne devices” which “may even reach Judea ‎and Samaria.” (WND)

TRUMP, PUTIN AGREE TO WORK TOGETHER ON SYRIA, PRESERVE ISRAEL’S SECURITY: President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed at a meeting in Helsinki on Mon. 16 July 2018 to work together on solving the Syrian crisis - with both focusing on the need to guarantee Israel's security. Putin said, "The situation on the Golan Heights must be brought into full compliance with the 1974 disengagement agreement. This would return calm to the Golan, restore the cease-fire, and safely guarantee the security of the State of Israel". Trump said, "I made clear we will not allow Iran to benefit from our successful campaign against ISIS.” Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of analysis in Israel's military intelligence, said Assad should respect the 1974 separation agreements, and it is important that Putin and Trump both expect him to do it, but Israel wants Iran not to be allowed to stay in all of Syria, not just the Golan Heights." (Wall St. Journal)

CONGRESS WANTS RECOGNITION OF ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY OVER GOLAN HEIGHTS: Congress is renewing efforts to press the Trump administration into recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Israel's northern border with Syria. The House's National Security Subcommittee held a hearing on 17 July 2018 to examine how recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the territory could bolster the USA’s national security efforts to stem the flow of terrorists. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said: "USA recognition of the Golan Heights is overdue. As we've seen with the successful relocation of our American embassy to Jerusalem, when the USA leads with purpose and conviction, good things happen." (Washington Free Beacon) Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War, after years during which the Syrian armed forces positioned there bombarded Israel's farms and towns, situated roughly 1,700 feet below, with artillery fire. The Syrians also sought to divert the headwaters of the Jordan River that flowed through the Golan Heights. While Syrian ground forces have been severely degraded in the recent civil war, the eventual recovery of the Syrian army must be anticipated. Massive Russian arms transfers to the Syrian armed forces will likely provide the basis for the renewal of Syrian military power. Pray that Congressional efforts will result in the USA officially recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on its northern borders.

LINDA SARSOUR AND THE REJECTION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: On a recent MSNBC news discussion show, left-wing anti-Zionist activist Linda Sarsour claimed: Dr. Martin Luther King warned us about people like Chuck Schumer. He said it wasn’t the Ku Klux Klan and white citizen counselors who were the obstacles towards justice. It was people calling for “civility” and people that were telling us when to protest and at what time and how to protest. In response, Michael Lumish, a PhD in American history from the Pennsylvania State University, said that he found it fascinating that “progressives” like Linda Sarsour have the chutzpah to evoke Martin Luther King, Jr., when the very last thing that King stood for was Sarsour’s brand of ideological racism. Lumish pointed out that the primary admonition of Dr. King was to judge people according to their individual character, rather than immutable characteristics like ethnicity. This was the fundamental message of his “I Have a Dream” speech on the National Mall on August 28, 1963. How someone who represents the American left could not understand this requires explanation.

Anti-racism was the essential message of the civil rights movement in the United States following World War II. Yet Sarsour insists, “If you’re in a movement and you’re not following a woman of color, you’re in the wrong movement.” This notion contradicts the teachings of King and of the entire movement for social justice — from abolitionism to Abbie Hoffman — because it is racist on its face. What Sarsour is saying, in no uncertain terms, is that the quality of one’s character is directly determined by one’s ethnicity and gender. This is turning the ideals of the civil rights movement inside out and backwards. (Algemeiner) Chuck Schumer is a USA politician of the Democratic Party. Since 2017 he has served as the Senate Minority Leader. Schumer has consistently shown strong support for Israel. Linda Sarsour is an American political activist and former executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. Sarsour was co-chair of the 2017 Women's March and of the 2017 Day Without a Woman strike and protest. Her involvement in the Women's March resulted in increased media attention along with criticism for her outspoken stance on Israel, including her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. In August 2017 Sarsour compared Zionists to white supremacists at a rally saying that "We will not be silenced by white supremacists, by neo-Nazis, or right-wing Zionists."

ISRAEL’S ELBIT UNVEILS CIVILIAN UAV THAT CAN FLY ALONGSIDE COMMERCIAL JETS: The Israeli Elbit defense contractor days ago unveiled a new civilian version of its Hermes 900 drone that can be flown alongside manned airplanes. The manufacturer, Elbit Systems Ltd., said the model was created in light of requests by countries around the world for drones that can help thwart domestic terror attacks, like those caused by the ISIS terrorist group in recent years. “This change led to an increase in demand for advanced, matured UAV systems with the ability to be integrated safely into civilian airspace, which can operate in that area with manned civilian airplanes, and can provide the necessary intelligence capabilities to carry out complicated internal security and border security missions.” Most currently available UAVs lack the necessary sensors to operate in these areas without interfering with other aircraft. As a result, many countries have laws forbidding such drones from flying in civilian airspaces. For now, the StarLiner system will be marketed to Europe. (Times of Israel)

JOIN US IN JERUSALEM FOR THE SUCCOT CELEBRATIONS 2018: This year’s dates are September 25-27, 2018. Get 40% off if you book before August 1st, 2018. Early bird registration is closing soon and tickets are going fast so reserve your places now at: https://succotcelebration2018.eventbrite.com. It is a special time in Israel’s history – the 70th anniversary of her re-establishment as a nation. The Bible teaches us the importance of remembering and celebrating the goodness of our Father at all times. Even in the middle of the barren desert, God gave the Israelites coverings, food, water and clothing. Vision for Israel feels honored to be the outworking of His care in Israel in the challenging times she still faces as a nation. Even through increasing poverty and threats to Israel’s safety as a nation, we see new measures of His faithfulness and His everlasting love! During this memorable time, let’s unite in Israel for Succot 2018 to thank and praise Him. We will: experience praise and worship with Paul Wilbur, Joshua Aaron, and local teams; enjoy teachings from Dennis Greenidge, Benjamin Siegal, David Herzog, Barry and Batya Segal, and more, focused on Israel and the Middle East, learning God’s heart for the nation of Israel; and walk and dance on the streets of Jerusalem during the annual Jerusalem parade!

The suggestions, opinions and scripture references made by JNN writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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Vision for Israel & The Joseph Storehouse is a non-profit organization founded by Barry & Batya Segal in 1994, out of the desire to help build and restore the Land of Israel. VFI provides aid to poor and needy people from all backgrounds, living in the nation of Israel today.